Big Day!

So today, Mac had his 3 month check up with the eye doctor, and also his 3 month post-surgery scans and follow up with the neurosurgeon!

Eye Doctor:  we are going to continue patching, maybe changing up the times and days, but other than that, not much changing there.  She thinks its working, so that's great news :)  We do still have concerns with his vision, so we're going to re-evaluate where he is in the next 6-9 months and talk about adding vision therapy in to his list of appointments if he still seems to be having issues.  It is very common with kids who have brain conditions to have their eyes work great, but to have their brain not process the images correctly (this is called a cortical vision impairment).  Some kids are only slightly effected, others are functionally blind.  It's a little hard to gauge, because in a non-verbal child, they can't tell you what they can't see!  But, it's obvious to us that Mac's vision isn't developing like our other children's did.  So, we're glad to be keeping an eye on it.  The other big development eye-wise is that Mac is getting his first pair of specs!  They are SO CUTE!  Think Mr. Potato Head glasses...they are tiny :)  And cute.  SO CUTE!  I'm sure they'll be a little bit of a pain in the neck, but I'm hopeful that once he gets used to them, he'll leave them on.  He wasn't too impressed trying on the samples today, so I'm interested to see how this goes!  But did I mention how cute they are?!

Neurosurgeon:  not our best appointment, but certainly not our worst, either!  Mac had scans done last Friday, and they showed a slight increase in the fluid levels in his ventricles.  Bummer.  The good news is that it was just a "subtle increase".  But there really shouldn't be any increase--the hope is always either stability, or decreasing fluid levels.  We are going to re-scan this coming up Friday, and will see Gruber right after that to plan our next step.  Hopefully there won't be a next step--that would mean that everything inside stayed stable :)  We are REALLY REALLY hoping to get out of here for spring break, and brain surgery would throw a real wrench into our plans.  Again.  But, as I was telling the PA today--it has been three months, 'bout time for a tune up!  So, we just while away the hours until Friday afternoon!

Mac also had a follow-up last week with the surgeon who placed his g-tube.  It looks perfect!  We LOVE LOVE LOVE his g-tube, no child should come without one :)  He got pneumonia right after he came home from that surgery, and it was so great not fighting to get the gross antibiotics down the hatch, or wondering how much of the ibuprofen you just gave he drooled out.  Nope, it all just gets plunged right into the ol' belly!  Pretty sweet deal.  And, the supplies and dietician just show up at our door step.  They really couldn't make this any easier on sleep-deprived parents if they tried. 

And now, for some pictures:


Mac, demonstrating Quincy's science fair project :)

 Look how strong he's getting in his Bumbo!  This was part of Q's project, too.

 Loves his exersaucer!

 His new accessory-a mic-key button.  All the cool kids have one.  Or one cool kid has one.  Whatever!  He's getting fat and happy with it, for sure :)  Almost a pound gained the first week we were on the dietician's plan!  Woohoo!